Method of spraying water in cooling-ponds



L. H. PARKER. J METHOD OF SPRAYING WATER IN COOLING PONDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, I917- Patented Apr. 26, 1921. 2 S HEETSSHEET I. 1. I X l Inwemtow: I Lee I E-Parker; 1% 5 Q L. H. PARKER.

METHOD OF SPRAYING WATER IN COOLING PONDS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1917.

1,376, 1 1 2. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Inven/Zow: LeeHParkem UNITED STATES TNT ()FFIQE LEE H. PARKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SPRAY ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF 130 STON', MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF SPRAYING WATER IN COOLING-PONIDS.

Original application filed February Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

4, 1917. Serial No 140,635.

T 0 all whom it may 0012 cam Be it known that of Boston,

1, LEE H. PARKER, a and a resident have invented an Improvement in Methods of Spraying Water in Cooling-Ponds,

of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,

is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 76,297, filed.

February 5, 1916, now Patent No. 1,233,119,

July 10, 1917.

This invention rel spraying ates to the method of water in cooling ponds.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have in the accompanying system Or apparatus may be carried out.

Figure drawings disclosed one whereby said method In said drawings,

1 is a plan view of a system or apparatus for carrying out my method;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one group of nozzles preferably employed in carrying out my method;

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic illus tration representing the discharge from a series of nozzles in the same group in carrying out my method;

Fig. 5 is ilar to Flg.

a diagrammatic illustration sim- 4 but epresenting sprays from adjacent pipe lines or streams and the air circulation therebetween, spaced somewhat closer in practice in order to sheet;

Fig. 6 is a detail in ticularly representing that may be used method; and

the groups being together than usual save space upon the side elevation and para drip spray nozzle in carrying out my Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a form of nozzle preferably einployed by me in carrying out my metho The pollution of river water from waste products of manufacturing processes, thereing ponds drawn and to which condensers is eturne rendering it unfit for use in condensers,

of constructing coolthe hot water from the d, thus using the water repeatedly. The object of my invention is to provide a thoroughly efficient method of cooling water for various purposes, such, for example, as for use in steam engines and steam turbines,. and for circulating Water through the jackets of gas or other internal combustion engines. Other uses will, however, be apparent and are within the scope of my invention. While my method is not restricted to the use of any particular type of nozzle, I preferably and in the carrying out of certain steps of my method, employ the nozzle shown in the United States Patent to Eneas, No. 1,101,264, June 23, 1914, the said nozzle being one whereby a very thorough mixture of the jets of water is eifected within the nozzle itself, so that the discharged spray may, particularly under high pressure, be very finely comminuted and issue as a wide spray of substantially homogeneous consistency throughout.

While therefore I am not limited to any particular nozzle, that referred to peculiarly cooperates in accomplishing an effective cooling of the water as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Referring first to that form of apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, for practising my invention, I have therein represented a cooling pond 1, herein shown as of generally rectangular form and having surrounding walls 2 of any suitable material. I have represented an outlet pipe 3 at one corner of the pond and positioned within an inclosure 4: suitably screened, as indicated at 5, from the body of the pond.

The water from the condenser of the engine or any other usual source and which is in a quite highly heated condition, enters through the main pipe 6. In the present embodiment of means for practising my invention, the main communicates with a T 7 leading from which are the oppositely directed pipes 8, 9 having at suitable intervals T heads 10, 11. From said T heads lead pipes generally indicated at 12, 13, and in the present form of means for practising my invention pipes 14:, 15 lead from the ends of the pipes 8, 9 in directions parallel with the pipes 12, 18. Within the scope of my invention, any suitable number of parallel or substantially parallel pipes may be employed, and they are placed sufficiently dis;

tant from each other to permit a current of air to rise between the sets of sprays issuing from adjacent pipes.

Each of the pipes 12, 13, 1 1 and 15 is preferably supported in suitable manner above the bottom of the cooling pond andas, for example, upon concrete piers 16 positioned at suitable distances apart throughout the pond. 7

Each of the pipes 12, 13, 14, 15 is made up of a series of sections, and as these pipes arefrequently of very considenable length, I have, after much experimentation, employed pipe sections of a uniform and standard length, such, for example, as twelve feet, these sections being indicated respectively at 12, 13, 1 1, 15. These sections of each pipe are united by suitable short sections, indicated at12, 13", 1 1", 15, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Preferably, the successive sections in the pipes 12, 13, 14, 15, are of successively decreasing diameters, as most clearly inclicated in Fig. 1, and in order suitably and readily to connect pipe sections of different diameters, I have constructed the short pipe sections 12", 13", 14", 15" as indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the short section 12 is shown as having different diameters at its opposite ends, these diameters correspond,

ing to the diameters of the two adjacent pipe sections 12. The short sections 12 I have termed eccentric Ts or sections. A further important purpose of forming the same as illustrated is to insure the location of the bottom or lower side of all the pipe sections in essentially the same plane, thus avoiding all trapping of the water in the system. Preferably the whole system slopes or is pitched slightly downward toward the outer end of the pipe sections; that is, at the end where the drip sprays are located, but this sloping is very gradual and preferably slight. It is, however, important that the bottom of all the pipe sections be in substantially the same plane and that there be no trapping of the water after the system has been shut down. Preferably, though not necessarily, each group of spray nozzles is supported by and is in communication with a short pipe section. Preferably also I provide five nozzles in each group, herein indicated at a, b, c, d and e, the nozzle (1 being a central nozzle and the other nozzles being erably diagonally arranged pipes 17, 18, 19, 20. Viewing Fig. 1, it will be evident that by providing the diagonal arrangement of pipes 17, 18, 19, 20 and by positioning adjacent spray groups at a suitable distance apart, not only are the four nozzles Z), a, (Z, c of each group equidistant, but the nozzles b, c, of each group are substantially the same distance from the nozzles d, e of the next adjacent group that they are from each supported by four pref-.

other and from the nozzles d, e of their own group. In this manner, I obtain the most effective distribution of the water issuing from the nozzles and provide for the most eflective upward circulation of air between the nozzles, not only of a single group, but between the nozzles of adjacent groups.

Viewing Fig. 3, it will be evident that each of the pipes 17, 18, 19, 20 is upwardly bent at its outer end, as indicated at 17', 18, etc., and that the nozzles a, b, 0, d .and e are all vertically positioned, this being in accordance with the preferred embodiment of means for practising my invention; that is to say, the nozzles a, b, 0, cl and c are not inclined either inwardly toward each other, or outwardly from each other, both of such latter constructions being objectionable.

I have found after much experimentation that if the nozzles of a set be inclined toward eachother, the drops or particles of water from adjacent jets will collide with or meet each other too close to the surface of the water and. before the water discharged from the nozzles has come sufficiently into contact with the air to effect any substantial cooling thereof. If, on the other hand, the nozzles be outwardly 1nclined, then the upward circulation of a r between the jets of adjacent pipe lines is interfered with, and moreover there is such a distribution of the water that the area of pond must be increased to permit eflicient cooling.

By positioning the nozzles vertically or substantially vertically as described, the particles of the spray issuing from the nozzles of a jet are caused to collide with the spray issuing from the adjacent jets of that set at a substantially greater distance above the surface of the pond. In this manner, I effect two important results. If the nozzles be inclined so that the drops or particles collide about two or three feet above the surface of the pond, a great deal of water in a swell heated condition drops back into the pond. With the described vertical arrangement, not much water drops back immediately into the pond, but the water or a large percentage of the water is permitted to be discharged throughout what may be termed the normal field or extent of the inverted cone and to drop back from the inverted base in finely comminuted particles. If the impact or collision of the drops occurs at a very slight height above the surface of the pond, the drops are not sufficiently broken up, and much of the water ward draft and'circulation of the air, which p the water requisite to a proper-and rapid cooling of that the water be brought into intimate contact with as great a volume of air as possible and that the latter be kept in constant circulation. Moreover, the intimate mixture of the circulating air with the water effects a purification ofthe whole. I

have described the nozzles as positioned vertically or substantially .vertically. By this I mean that the nozzles need not be exactly vertical but may varyslightly therefrom and still produce the beneficial effects herein described. a

I have set forth the objections to a system wherein the sprays from adjacent nozzles collide or impact at a relatively slight height above the surface of the cooling pond. In some respectsan ideal systemwould be one wherein no spray from one nozzle collides with the spray fromany other nozzle. Such an arrangement, howeverfwould be in itself objectionable in that altogether too much area would be required for the proper number of spray nozzles.

1 one hand is that of impingement of the number of spraysthat may be used'upon a pond of given area. After a great deal of experimentation, I have ascertained that if two square feet of area of pond be afforded for one gallon per minute ofsprayed water, the best arrangement is effected, considering all the problems involved.

By substantially the arrangement described, I eflect not only an upward circulation of air between the sprays of adjacent groups, but also between the sprays of each group. If the supporting pipes or pipe arms of each group were too short, it is evident that the sprays of each group might so impinge upon each other as substantially to cut off all upward flow of air between them.

In Fig. 4, I have diagrammatically indi cated the jets or sprays issuing from nozzles of the same set, the sprays from the several nozzles being somewhat diagrammatically indicated in said figure.

In Fig. 5, I have similarly represented sprays issuing from the nozzles of adjacent pipe lines, such, for example, as 12, 13, and

have indicated the fact that suflicient distance is left between the descending portions of adjacent sprays to permit the effective upward passage of a column of cooling air.

The distance apart of adjacent parallel pipe lines, such, for example, as 12, 13,

l n varies somewhat according to the pressure that it is desiredto use, the greater the pres sure employed, the greater. being the distance between the ad acent plpelines. In

1 adjacent pipe The difliculty on the at too slight an elevation above the I have found that by positioning lines substantially twenty to twenty-five "feet apart, I have provided for the proper upward movement of the air columns between the jets from adjacent pipe lines, and at the same time have compacted the pipe lines for the nozzles to as great an extent as is possible without interfering with the air circulation.

The-length of the pipes 17, 18, 19, 20, of each setof nozzles may be varied within the scope of my invention, but for most purposes I have found that by making. each of said pipes about five and a half feet in length with a length of pipe sections 12, 13, etc, about twelve feet, and a length of the short sections 12", 13", etc., of about one foot, I have secured substantially an equidistance of the outernozzles of the group and the nozzles of adjacent groups. connected with the same pipe line. In certain cases, I put together two pipe sections 12, 12 and attach a. short pipe section substantially a foot in length to the outer ends of these two pipe sections, thus spacing the centers of the two "adjacent sets of nozzle substantially twenty-five feet apart. In such case, I have achieved the best results by making the pipe arms17, 18, 19, 20 each substantially eight feet in length, thus again securing substantial equidistance between the several nozzles referred to.

The diagonally arranged pipes 17 18, 19, 20 are preferably tapped at their inner ends into suitable openings in a head 21, which is supported upon the short pipe section 12", etc., by a short pipe 22.

In Fig. 6 I have indicated what I term a drip spray nozzle. I provide a spoon-like or other suitably shaped deflector or plate 46. I provide couplings 47 connected to the ends of the parallel pipe lines, such, for example, as the pipe lines 12, 13, etc., the drip water being discharged through said couplings 47 onto the parts 46 by which it is suitably scattered onto the surface of the practice,

water, and the bottom of the pond is protected from such drip. The purpose of the drip spray nozzle is to efiect the discharge of the residual water from the pipe lines when the system is shut down and freezing would occur to the'residual water left in the discharge orifice at 50. Preferably the entrance 49 is suitably threaded as indicated at 51. Threaded or otherwise fitted or secured within the nozzle is the liquid guiding member 52 having a central, preferably straight, jet orifice 53, and one or more (preferably a series) of surrounding jet orifices 54, which may be secured by providing a series 'of vanes 55 more or less surrounding the central jet.

By the nozzle herein disclosed I efiect a Very thorough mixing of the water from the central and surrounding jets within the nozzle and hence the discharge of thewater under suitable pressure in a wide spray of 1 substantially homogeneous consistency and in a thoroughly mixed condition. Particularl under high pressure, the water is very finely subdivided and may be discharged almost in the form of a drifting vapor or so-called smoke.

The sprays issuing from the jets in a single pipe line preferably collide or impact upon each other, but at a suflicient distance above the surface of the pond to prevent the water falling back in a highly heated condition into the pond.

The employment of a group of sprays secures what may be termed an accumulated air driving action, by means of which a strong current of cooling air is caused to rise between the sprays from adjacent pipe lines; In the practice of my invention, I.

effect, by the grouping of sprays into sets, an effective circulation of the cooling air, and the jets are so relatively positioned, not only in each set, but in and with respect to adjacent sets, that suflicient impact is secured between the sprays from adjacent sets of spray nozzles. At the same time, the system is rendered as compact as possible and the pressure is kept as low as possible consistent with the due circulation of cooling air.

In accordance with my method, I spray the heated water upwardly in jets grouped to produce concentrated, upward air suction by the chimney effect of said heated, grouped, jets, and space said groups throughout the pond by lanes extending crosswise each other, to afford air access to all said groups through the natural movement of air currents across the pond from any margin thereof. I effect an upward circulation of air between the jets of each group, a greater upward circulation of air between the adjacent groups of the same pipe line and a still greater upward circulation of air between the groups of adjacent pipe lines.

In employing spraying systems such as shown in Fig. 1, etc., it is to be understood that I employ a suitable pump or other suction or circulating device, by means of which the water is caused to circulate from the condenser or other source of hot Water to the cooling pond and back to'the condenser. I may in such connection employ any suitable circulating system whether or are used in a generic and descrlptive sense and not for purposes of. limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. 7

laims:

1. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises, discharging the water to be cooled from points adjacent to the surface of the pond, in substantially vertically directed jets arranged in longitudinally extending, parallel rows of groups alongparallel lines of supply; providing in each group a plurality of such substantially vertically directed jets arranged in rectangular series along the line of supply to the jets of each row; maintaining the said jets of each group at substantial equidistance from each other and at such distance that taken with their substantially vertical direction they impinge upon each other only at a relatively reat height above the surface of the pond and after material cooling of the drops of the jets has been effected; maintainingthe jets of each group at the same distance from each other that a trans versely arranged pair thereof are from the nearest transversely arranged pair {of jets of the next adjacent group, whereby the air is permitted to circulate freely parallel to the surface of the pond across the line of supply of each row ofgroups and also upwardly between the groups of each row; and maintaining a wider spacing between the jets of adjacent rows of groups than be- 1 tween the jets of the groups of the same row of groups, whereby free circulation of air is permitted longitudinally of and between adjacent rows of groups.

2. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises discharging the water to be cooled from points adjacent to the surface of the pond in jets substantially vertically directed and horizontally spaced, so that the collision of the drops of said jets is prevented near to the surface of the pond and is effected only at a relatively great height above the surface of the pond and after material cooling of the discharged water has been effected, and whereby the drops fall back into the pond materially cooled; arrangingthe said substan-' tially vertically directed jets in groups along a plurality of longitudinally extending, parallel rows and positioning the jets of each group in rectangular arrangement with a pair of jets of each group at each side of the line of supply to the jets of such group and of said row of groups, and spacing the various groups of jets along the same rowat such distance apart that a pair of adjacent jets of the same group and extending across roup are the same distance from each other that they are from the nearest pair of jets of the next adjacent group, thereby providing space for the eifective circulation of air between the jets of adjacent groups of the same row of groups.

3. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises discharging the water to be cooled substantially vertically upward from points adjacent to the surface of the pond but in groups arranged in longitudinal parallel rows; positioning the jets of each group in a set of four jets arranged in a square with two jets on each side of the line of supply to said group whereby said jets are arranged with respect to each other along the diagonals of such square; and positioning the groups of each row at such distance from each other that the adjacent pairs of jets of adjacent groups are the same distance from each other that they are from the corresponding jets of the adjacent groups, whereby free circulation of air is permitted transversely and vertically between the adjacent groups of the same row; and whereby the jets of the same group or of adjacent groups are prevented from colliding until they reach a relatively great height above the surface of the pond, so that the water is effectively cooled before it falls back to the surface of the pond after collision in the air.

4. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises establishing a series of substantially vertically directed jets in longitudinally eXtending, parallel rows of groups along parallel lines of water supply, whereby the water to be cooled is discharged substantially vertically upward at the established jets from points adjacent to the surface of the pond; establishing in each of said groups a plurality of such substantially vertically directed jets in square series along the line of supply to the ets of each row; establishing and maintaining the said jets of each group at substantially equidistance from each other and at such distance that taken with their substantially vertical direction, they impinge upon each other only at a relatively great height above the surface of the pond and after material cooling of the drops of the jets has been effected; and establishing and maintaining the ets of each of said groups at the same distance from each other that a transversely arranged pair thereof are from the nearest transversely arranged pair of jets of the vnext adjacent group, whereby the air is permitted to circulate freely parallel to the surface of the pond across the line of water supply of each row of groups of jets, and

the line of supply of such the pond across the line also upwardly between the groups of each row.

5. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises establishing a series of substantially vertically directed jets in longitudinally extending, parallel rows of groups along parallel lines of water supply, whereby the water to be cooled is discharged substantially vertically upward at the established jets from points adjacent to the surface of the pond; establishing and maintaining jets of each group in a set of four jets in a square formation with two jets on each side of the line of water supply to said group, whereby said four jets are arranged with respect to each other along the diagonals of a square; and establishing and maintaining the groups of each row at such distance from each other that the adjacent pairs of jets of adjacent groups are the same distance from each other that they are from the corresponding 'ets of the adjacent groups of the same row, whereby free circulation of air is permitted transversely and vertically between the adjacent groups of the same row, and whereby the jets of the same group or of adjacent groups are prevented from collidafter material cooling of the drops of the jets has been effected, so that the water 1s effectively cooled before it falls back to the surface of the pond.

6. That method of cooling water of cooling ponds which comprises; establishing a series of substantially vertically directed jets in longitudinally extending, substantially parallel rows of groups along sub stantially parallel lines of water supply, whereby the water to be cooled is dis charged substantially vertically upward at the established jets from points adjacent to the surface of the pond; establishing in each of said groups a plurality of such sub, stantially vertically directed ets in substantially rectangular arrangement, in pairs along the line of supply to the jets of each row; establishing and maintaining the said jets of each group at approximate equidistance apart and so spacing the transversely arranged pairs of each of said groups from the respectively nearest transversely arranged pair of jets of the next adjacent group in the same row that, taken with their vertical direction, the said substantially vertically directed jets of the same group and of adjacent groups along the same line of water supply can impinge upon height above the surface of the pond and after material cooling of the drops has been effected, and whereby the air is permitted to circulate freely parallel to the surface of of water supply of each row of groups of jets and also upwardly between the groups of each row.

7. That method of cooling the water of cooling ponds which comprises; establishing a series of substantially vertically directed jets in longitudinally extending, substantially parallel rows of groups along substantially parallel lines of water supply, whereby the water to be cooled is discharged substantially vertically upward at the established jets from points adjacent to the surface of the pond; establishing in each of said groups a plurality of such substantially vertically directed jets in substantially rectangular arrangement, in pairs, along the line of supply to the jets of each row; establishing and maintaining the said jets of each group at such distance vertically diabove the surface of the pond and after material cooling of the drops has been effected, and so spacing the transversely arranged pairs of each of the groups of the same row respectively from the nearest transversely arranged pairs of the next adjacent groups of the same row that the air is permitted to circulate freely parallel to the surface of the pond across the lines of water supply of each row of groups of jets and also upwardly between the groups of each row.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LEE H. PARKER. 

